Tip of the Spear: NCOs Help Strengthen Corps

From the Battle of Chapultepec to current operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, non-commissioned officers have led the charge on and off the battlefield since the birth of the Corps. Marines are given added responsibilities when they join the NCO ranks, but some Marines believe those responsibilities are slowly being stripped away. Former Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Charles C. Krulak, wrote 'Micro-management must become a thing of the past and supervision -- that double-edged sword -- must be complemented by proactive mentoring.' Photo by Sgt. Jennifer Brofer